Forget Everything You Know About Golf Club Releasing - Here's The Truth!

[@mjhoog]

My swing suffered for years because I misunderstood the difference between releasing and flipping the golf club. I was lucky enough to find a golf pro who subscribes to your school of thought and helped me with my release.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Really happy you’ve found your way my friend.

[@Sklinh710]

i have to thank you again because you always show us all root causes of a problem, that differ you from other coach who only tell us that do something but never understand why.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Coaching is nothing with explanation. Following blindly is a fatal endeavour.

[@gmonkey808]

In the last week i have binged on your videos. After understanding your swing advice I went straight up to the course after one video and it didnt work. Great connection but shots all over the place. I then read your reply to my comment and suggestion to watch the broom video. I have made swings in the back yard with a brush (broom) for years but always worked on club path. Your idea of turning the face sideways to demonstrate the takeaway is genius. The feedback is so much easier to understand. The broom takeaway is NOTHING like what i have been doing. less forearm roll, lower backswing path initially , intuitive stronger grip than i have had and much much less of a chop (flip, flick ?) feel through swing. I do the brush (broom) drill thing three times a day outside now as i work from home. I will feedback. Without the broom i would never never have come to the conclusion that the takeaway was like that. I thought id post that for people that try and skip to step three and miss step one like i did. I would imagine that you would say grip is step one but your brain needs a big reason to change this. Anyone is going to struggle if they rely on leaps of faith. The subconscious wont accept leaps of faith. The broom video spells it out.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

I am glad you’ve found the answers and the golf performance has improved. Glad you stayed the course and got the results. Best wishes Stu 😊

[@stuartstatham3989]

Thanks Stuart for dispelling so many golfing myths that I’ve been a victim of. I’ve watched, & subscribed, to, approx 10 of your videos over the last few days and put much of it into practice. I’ve learnt more about my golf swing in those video’s than the last 24 months of various videos I’ve sat through. I initially thought you were to wordy but actually the clarity came through. I’ve never really been sure about what I was trying to do in my swing but now have a much better idea. We all have our own swing but thank you for helping me understand my own.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

It’s my pleasure Stuart - I hope my sometimes length explanations give you clarity on what needs applying to let you have the best chance to play the golf you want. Enjoy thanks for sharing your thoughts my friend. Best wishes Stu 😊

[@petersmith9470]

I just worked on the feel of throwing the club straight forward in the following through after the wrist set.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Hey Peter - sounds like you found something!!

[@ktms1188]

7:10 To slightly correct you, you actually can time it, of course the issue is doing it more than a few times out of 10. That or you get a down perfect but then you go on the course and maybe your little tired and your golf swing goes to heck and people don't know why. Golf is so much about repeatability and completion even when tired or stressed that is what a lot of amateurs I think miss because they can do it when they are fresh and in no stress at a range.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Much appreciated

[@amamapap8536]

Hello, well explained under release... I realise that my driver shots curve safely with extention of the left wrist and higher iron shots. In some case i correct hooking by that move. The question remains with shorter distance in comparision with bowed left wrist. Thanks!

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Im assuming you are a strong grip golfer; great to hear your insights... For irons, you may want to take a look atg your lead foot and how it behaves for iron shots... Hope that helps. best wishes Stu

[@denniskennemur2043]

Thank you thank you thank you Stuart. You explanation at the 9 min mark made a light bulb go off and a realized why swinging so inside out was leaving my club face open at impact. Played today and hit 12 of 14 fairways and my approach shots where so much more accurate. I know I have a lot to work on but your videos have helped me a great deal. So Thank you!

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Thank you so very much for sharing your experience Dennis and it’s my absolute pleasure Sir. If you have any questions, do let me know! Best wishes Stu 😊

[@carlisgarza]

You are a golf scientist! I understood your idea… now the point is to bring it to the golf course! I will let you know how it goes

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Hugely appreciate the kind feedback my friend and I sincerely look forward to hearing all about the on course play! Best wishes Stu 😊

[@johncreet1254]

I watched this last night and again today. Coincidentally, I also watched one of your other videos on the release for the second time yesterday and thought they dovetailed superbly. I feel I now have a much clearer understanding of what's going on with the release and why the latter part of my swing is as it is. Will aim to watch them both again in a few weeks time. Thanks, Stuart.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

My pleasure John, glad it’s helped. 😄

[@JayPatel-jl2yw]

this video is golden - so much cleared up (put it in the louvre). I feel this channel will blow up

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Thanks Jay - I hope you’re right! Best wishes Stu 😊

[@ronmullard5718]

I've understood the flip to be when the club head overtakes the handle staying square and effectively adding loft ...giving very high shots with reduced distance....(which I believe I am doing as shots go as high as they do in distance...irons that is)

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Flip is referred to as the tow over taking heel in order to square the clubface up. Depending how open your face is will depend how much you need to rotate the face and when doing so, how much the handle will be over taken by. If you don’t take a divot, and have a high ball flight, stopping the flip will make you worse. The flip is saving you. Hope that helps. 😊

[@ronmullard5718]

@@GoodGolfCoaching I don't release the club (keep face square ) as I mentioned someone gave me some (well meaning advice) after which I started to pull/hook very badly prior to that ball predominantly went right so to stop tried to keep club face square....so would it be termed as scooping then....

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

@@ronmullard5718 releasing/flipping/scooping are all terms to make the face point more left of target. Scooping is more “adding” loft than “closing” the face but the intent is the same, to close the club face. Hope that helps Ron

[@tesco3381]

hi stuart, love the videos. i feel like i pull the golf club from the top of the backswing but don't release the club at the bottom, i feel like i just keep pulling the handle which causes fat and thin shots with no real power, could you suggest a drill that could help me to feel a proper relase please. thanks

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Hi there - thanks for the kind words. I’ve done a video on “Angle of Attack” that addresses exactly your issue. Have you seen it? If not, let me know if you need more help. Best wishes Stu.

[@tinytoons2517]

Thanks Coach Stuart

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

My pleasure Tiny 😊

[@marklynd2039]

Stuart i appreciate your absolutely honesty my professional ive been to had been preach the first swing you mention holding off the hands no realise this same gentleman +4 handicap generally shoots 74 to 78 off the around our course and its his wayward long game that tends to faulter i rest my case you get where im going with this messsge 😊

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Mark, I really appreciate the insights and your condor and know exactly where your message is heading. Hoping my content has opened up your leaning and even greater golf is on the horizon. Best wishes Stu 😊

[@adzyazgard]

you are an absolute gem mate. well done.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Thank you my friend, glad you enjoyed 😊

[@motodiaries8204]

You point out that one's release style matches up with the rest of the way one delivers the club to the ball. Surely you must have a preference for release style, or at least one that matches up with the strong hold and delivery that you advocate. I'd like to know what that is. Guess I need to re-watch some more of your videos!

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Yes indeed you do Sir 😊

[@JuanSanchez-pq7xn]

Excellent vide, however, I still want to know a what point do I release the club, sometimes the ball goes left, and then right when I try to correct the release, help, thank you, I appreciate your videos.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Impossible to answer in isolation Juan - I would start with working on your grip. Check out my grip series Sir and all will become clear. Best wishes Stu 😊

[@chrisengland1]

So glad I found your channel you’re very clear 🙏👍

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

And I am truly grateful you are along for this exciting journey. Best wishes Stu 😊

[@paulwelsh9325]

Okay stu I think I’m getting it after a lot of your videos. You emphasise a lot about ( broom ) aiming the butt ( handle) at the ball in the downswing but as this video explains. If your arms are too far forward the club face will be open . So the 4 combinations are all how far you need to attack the ball with the butt at address. The problem I had was I changed my grip to a strong grip like yours from a week grip and as I sliced a few . Correct me if I’m wrong . That means than rather change the grip which is what I’ve been farting around with . I must have been coming too far inside the ball with the butt of the club. That way I can keep the strong grip because when I did connect I had yardage I have never been near before

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Amen Paul, exactly my friend. Grips have got huge impact on how a golfer moves the handle as well as beliefs and instruction. The wall of death will kill off the in to out nonsense 😊Thanks for sharing Paul. Best wishes Stu 😊

[@Tony91177]

Hi Stuart, I played with a fade for 2 years and wanted to play a draw so I started seeing a coach trying to get me to move left laterally and pull down on the inside from the top of the backswing and get my swing path in to out, I’m then told I need to release the club to get the ball back on path and to get more power… 6 weeks later I’m still struggling and now tend to pull or hook my shots… What’s you honest view on this and how do you think this compares to a more rotational golf swing? Great video as always. Love the content!! 👌

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Hi Tony - thanks for reaching out. Watch my videos on leg action, then watch over the top video. Both those videos will point you in the right direction. Two points to be aware of; 1 - should avoid actively encourage lateral motion in a backswing and 2 - never try to move the path independently. Hope that helps. Much appreciate the kind words Tony 😊

[@VimMitt]

Please tell us what is the right swing looks like?

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Ive created over 400 videos to direct you to the right swing...

[@TeddyCavachon]

The unappreciated genius of the Vardon / Interlaced grip is now it controls the three aspects of movement of the forearms and wrists which are: 1) radial -to- ulnar deviation (what you call “set”) which is a thumb-up / thumb-down movement of the hand at the wrist. 2) extension - to - flexion which is the hinging ‘back- and forward-slapping’ action at the wrist 3) pronation - to supination which is created by the rotation of the radius and ulna bones in the forearm not the wrist. The Vardon grip forces the hands to work in opposition to each other and that is the key for controlling the direction of the toe and orientation of the face in the golf swing. The ideal way to feel this opposition is to use the technique Martin Hall calls Elbows-Down / Palms-Up to put the hands on the handle of the club in the Vardon/Interlaced grip. 1) Start standing upright with elbows tucked into body bent 90° and with palms up then keeping elbows down rotate forearms so hands are in a praying position 🙏🏼 2) Using the right hand to hold the club vertical establish the lead hand grip, then apply the trail thumb resting in notch created by lead thumb and index finger. Hand will feel very relaxed making it very easy to get the trail hand positioned correctly, which is critical and where most the grips of most recreational are fatally flawed. 3) Bend forward at hips and let the weight of the club pull the lead arm straight - do not ground the club - retaining some bend in the trail arm. What you will observe as the club lowers is that the Vardon grip forces the FOREARMS TO ROTATE INWARD ( ) which causes the muscles in the forearms to stretch and tighten. This counter-rotational pressure is necessary in the grip to control the club and is difficult to to achieve when gripping a club resting ‘dead’ on the ground. 4) Pressure will be felt between the thumb pad of the trail hand and the lead hand. That pressure in the trail hand is what prevents the force of the club in the backswing from PRONATING the lead hand which opens the face and causes the club to swing too far inside which then will cause the lead elbow to bend (all bad). You can increase control by pressing down lightly with the still bent trail arm which will ‘push’ all the remaining slack out of lead arm similar to how the force of the swing will pull it out. This aids in correctly aligning the face to the ball where it will return at impact. 5) Pushing down on the lead hand will further stretch the muscles in the lead arm. It will also force the hands into extension, supination and radial deviation to the point arms and hands feel “locked up” because that orientation the Vardon grip creates inhibits any further pronation / supination but ideally puts both forearms near the middle of their 180° range of rotation between maxed out pronation and supination. 6) You will find the only way the club can easily be moved at this point is a “waggle” action up and down using radial-unlar deviation which is the movement needed to “set” the club which is the goal of this multi-step process for gripping the club. If you set-up as described above and then waggle the club up and down you will find it freely hinges up and but when in comes back down and hands are pulled into maxed out ulnar deviation (similar to fly casting / whip cracking) the wrists feel they are locked up again. This was one of Hogan’s many secrets and why he waggled in his pre-shot routine to rehearse the wrist action when releasing the club into the ball. If you practice the waggle to the point the wrists feel locked when all the way down, adjust the face in the grip so the face is square to the target when that happens, then let golf ball get in the way you will be amazed at how consistently straight and far it will go with just that hand action the Vardon grip, applied properly, creates automatically with great consistency which again was the secret behind Hogan’s renowned ability to hit dead straight shots far better than his contemporaries. Now we get to the bio-mechanics of what allows the hands to roll-over. It is caused by rotation of the forearms and is PREVENTED in the golf swing by keeping either FLEXION or EXTENSION, and ideally both in opposite wrists or by having RADIAL DEVIATION. It is when the club force is allowed topull both wrists into ulnar deviation and also pull the extension/flexion out of them and arms straight the hands will flip because THEY LACK THE MECHANICAL LEVERAGE to prevent it! What the Vardon grip creates automatically is MECHANICAL LEVERAGE in the ‘weak’ trailing arm during the backswing and downswing by first forcing the trail wrist to max-out in EXTENSION which creates the LEVERAGE to force the trail arm to fold elbows down and externally rotate. Martin Hall’s EDPU technique puts the hands in the grip and creates the COUNTER TORQUE between the hands and arms to make this happen automatically at the ideal point in the backswing at the same time it prevents the lead arm from pronating the hand. The same LEVERAGE created by proper use of the Vardon grip causes the lead arm to bend elbow down and externally rotate in the finish. This is exactly why every golf instructor stresses the importance of proper grip but few ever explain WHY the Vardon grip works so well as I have tried to do here. I discovered this many years ago when I decided to try using Hogan’s Five Lessons to re-tool my swing from zero using what he suggested. He devotes 18 pages to how to grip the club and stresses the importance of the waggle. His hands at impact where in maxed-out ulnar deviation but also had maxed flexion/supination in the lead hand (like Dustin Johnson today) and some extension retained in his trail hand which prevented the turning over of his hands. But Hogan was also noted for missing with snap hooks and that I discovered will occur if timing is off and the extension gets pulled out of the trail wrist before the ball completely releases from the face. The way to prevent the hands from getting too far ahead and pulling the controlling extension out of the trail wrist is to RELEASE THE BACK FOOT which releases the hips/shoulders/hand to turn freely again into the finish. If the lifting of the back foot is too late, the club force will pull extension out of the trail wrist and hands will turn over too soon. If the back foot is lifted too soon or two quickly (as most recreational golfers do) it frees the hips too soon which also gets hands too far forward but creates an open faced slice across the ball. The other critical element in good swings is side-bending of the spine which is what keeps the lead arm under control and causes it to stay close to body and swing left of target line in finish by the way it causes the shoulders to tilt INDEPENDENTLY from the pelvis, lowering the trail shoulder relative to pelvis and raising the lead shoulder which is what pulls the mass of the lead arm to the left of target line.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Thanks for sharing - I’m sure people will enjoy reading!!! Best wishes Stu

[@yeokianchuan5994]

Stuart-is it ok to view the driver head as a spoon to scoop pass the ball ie the bottom of driver will sweep across the ball

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Yes it is sir, as long as you load the club in the down swing, pull from the top. Let me know how it goes! Best wishes Stu 😊

[@yeokianchuan5994]

Thanks 👍👍👍

[@andycorso8498]

Yes….. I’m an under ‘presenter’ always concerned about that but maybe I should no longer…… always food for thought Stu👍

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Indeed Andy!

[@waltermackie6897]

Its always the same, all instruction is about trying to fix a slice, what about rolling it thru to much and fighting a hook? Does more turn slow the wrists from rolling over? How do you slow the closure rate and get the face more open? How can I fade it?

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Hey Walter - there are many ways to fix a hook; more cup in the left hand, more down strike, weaken the grip, more handle speed and lighter grip pressure… I could go on Sir. I did a video on “shot shaping” this will help you. Hope that helps. Best wishes Stu 😊

[@CooperJ-k5b]

Another excellent video. Good video on why you should not copy other people.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Amen to that my friend! Best wishes Stu

[@gabrielrml]

Why is it handle end and not grip end?

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Call it whatever you feel happier with 😂😂

[@digitalshapes9501]

For most amateur golfers there is little understanding / comprehension of what a flip. Your main point send to be you do need to have some forearm rotation in a good golf swing otherwise you will tend to slice the ball. In my experience you definitely do need some degree of passive forearm rotation that synchs up with your body rotation. There are different perceptions / variants of what a flip really is. They seem to fall into two main categories. The first being a wrist / flapping action through impact where the lead wrist rapidly flips / cups back on itself and trail wrist goes rapidly from a set condition into a bowed condition post impact. Fred Couples did rather well with this release pattern. More players these days seem to be adopting this. (A cupped lead wrist post impact). The second category where excessive reliance on rolling the forearms to square / close the club face through impact causing the toe of the club to rapidly overtake the heel of the club. Post impact the club face points down to the ground. This is what most players understand as flipping the club. Where you need great hands to square the face. Players using this pattern tend to like shaping the ball with a draw or a fade (they don’t like playing straight shots). if you are a golfer who comes into the last parallel ( P6)delivery position with an open club face relative to your spine angle you will need to flip / roll your forearms to try to save / recover the shot / to square the club face. However most professional golfers would argue you need to fix your impact condition much earlier some would argue fix it in the backswing. You can’t fix it with a David Leadbetter dog wags the tail approach / body release pattern if you screw up last parallel / too late to deploy passive hands through impact / body rotation alone. How should you come into last parallel correctly? I guess this highly depends on the golf release pattern you wish to follow. If you prefer the David Leadbetter / Dan Whittaker body release pattern you need the club face to be square to your spine angle. My understanding of your recommended release pattern of tipping the club over from lead arm parallel half way in the downswing with a steeper second half of the downswing is very unconventional. In fact I don’t think your release pattern would work if you didn’t release / flip the forearms. Is this wrong? No not if you understand what you’re doing and this is the method you’re following. It would interesting to hear how you feel about the Speed Boat drill relative to your release methodology.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Very simple to quantify a flip in most; toe is overtaking the heel through strike excessively. Reduction in loft. The other, good handle orientation to deliver AoA, toe of over heel and “loft”. This is the difference. Hope that helps.

[@MrPaulbartholomew]

Amazing video thanks Stuart. I’ve had a few lessons recently and the coach is saying I’m flipping and funnily enough referenced Fleetwood and told me to feel like him and feel I have zero release. Is he right? Ps I was hitting it left when I saw him 🤨🤷🏻‍♂️😂 thanks Stuart

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Imho there is more to the release of a golf club than just feeling the “Fleetwood” finish. Two amber lights if the Fleetwood finish is not right you; 1 - strike moving towards the heel of the golf club and/or shanks. 2 - your back feels restricted through strike. I’ll do another video on club release soon, but I hope this has helped. Best wishes Stuart 😊

[@MrPaulbartholomew]

@@GoodGolfCoaching thanks Stuart, as a new subscriber to your channel I honestly believe it’s one of the best out there. Superbly done. 👌👍🏌️‍♂️

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

@@MrPaulbartholomew thank you so much for such wonderful feedback, and your support for the channel is equally appreciated. Best wishes Stu

[@motodiaries8204]

I would say that a golf teacher could very well know how to make a good golf swing. He may not be consistent enough at it to play at a high level, but he almost certainly can play far better than his students. Understanding and teaching can be different than performing consistently well.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Best wishes Stu

[@motodiaries8204]

Really been enjoying your content. You talk about things nobody else is saying. Trying your grip video right now. Hugely different from what I usually do but some crazy good results. @@GoodGolfCoaching

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

@@motodiaries8204 Great to hear, long may it continue and you continue to enjoy my content Sir. Best wishes Stu 😊

[@azcharlie2009]

The point is, the faster the "club head" is moving, the farther the ball will go. How fast you drag the handle means nothing.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Energy transfer my friend, levers off it in abundance. Dragging doesn’t.

[@mntlblok]

I guess 22 is close to 20. 🙂 (4:00) This Stricker mystery is *so* intriguing!

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Nothing is a mystery! 😂😂

[@mntlblok]

@@GoodGolfCoaching With the rate at which you are currently demysteriousizing things for me, I'm sure it won't remain one for me for long.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Need to give you enough to watch! 😊

[@mntlblok]

@@GoodGolfCoaching Have you any idea how *many* videos you've already made?? 🙂 That's a *lot* of content!

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

388 ahha @@mntlblok

[@joelbrooks814]

SUPERB!

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Thanks so much Joel!

[@VimMitt]

Please focus on the point where club is supposed to be?

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

I have done this over many many videos. You are looking for one quick tip, and unfortunately there is no such thing.

[@randolphsnyder1505]

Semantics problem " release " means let go doesnt it ? I think you should use the word strike or hit instead. Now back to basics, if the golfer strives to return the club to the ball in the same position it was at address except it is traveling 80 plus mph everything must be very close to where it was at address,if your hands or body are not in address position at strike you will not hit a good shot. Personally I strive to repeat my swing as close as I can,it is easy to fix hook if its consistent.There is no one size fits all golf swing. If you look you will see even the pros have different swings.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Sounds like you have your swing thoughts working for you Randolph, well done! Best wishes Stu 😊

[@johnzoppi8913]

I totally disagree for the simple reason there are two types of release one is roll the club face and pull the handle and the other is club face control like david duval and most tour players do not do what your saying. Watch dan altons video on how the tour players release the club

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Haha ok John. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@12496k]

"You, my friend, are living in cuckoo land." 😆😆😆

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

😂😂Love it up there!

[@12496k]

@@GoodGolfCoaching 😃

[@bh5606]

I think he is trying to teach something but I do not know what.

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

That’s a shame you don’t understand, please let me know what you’d like me to elaborate on and I will do so… 😊

[@rickgajewski5297]

Did you watch it with the sound off?

[@popkan21]

absolutely have to watch this guy at 1.5x speed (very stop and go speaking cadence). if only he could summarize a bit

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Thanks for sharing your insights! Clearly 1.5 is the way forward!

[@BillDearman-p9s]

you over explaine just let me what to do frustated

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Sorry Bill, will try harder next time. Best wishes Stu

[@Golf-ib4wg]

Stuart. Thanks for the video. I sent you a dm on Instagram, do you offer some online instruction?

[@GoodGolfCoaching]

Please accept my apologies, I cant seem to find that message. But YES, I absolutely offer online coaching via the skillest app, if you're familiar with this? Search my name and you'll find me.